English
Intent
Reading
At Elmhurst Junior School, our Guided Reading programme is designed to foster a love of reading while developing the essential skills necessary for our pupils to become competent, confident, and passionate readers. We aim to:
- Promote Lifelong Reading Habits: By engaging pupils in a variety of high-quality literature and short extracts, we aim to nurture a passion for reading that extends beyond the classroom and into lifelong learning.
- Develop Comprehension and Critical Thinking: Our curriculum focuses on developing pupils’ ability to infer, predict, summarise, and analyse texts, enhancing their comprehension skills critical for academic success.
- Explore Tier 2 Vocabulary: We intentionally incorporate tier 2 vocabulary into our sessions, ensuring pupils not only encounter these words in context but also develop their ability to use them effectively in both spoken and written language.
- Foster Collaborative Learning: Through peer interactions, we encourage discussions that deepen understanding, enhance vocabulary, and build social skills, creating a collaborative learning environment where pupils feel valued and respected.
Writing
At Elmhurst Junior School, we aim to instil a love for writing and to empower every child to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and creatively. Our intent is to develop proficient writers who can communicate effectively across different contexts and genres. We align our writing curriculum with the National Curriculum while incorporating diverse texts that reflect the varied cultural backgrounds of our pupils. We prioritise the following objectives within our writing programme:
- Skill Development: To equip pupils with a broad range of writing skills, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling, alongside the ability to structure narratives and express opinions cohesively.
- Creative Expression: To nurture creativity and originality in writing through varied genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and digital formats, allowing children to engage with the styles and devices of accomplished authors.
- Fluency and Confidence: To build fluency and confidence in writing through purposeful practice and constructive feedback, encouraging pupils to take risks in their writing endeavours.
- Cross-Curricular Links: To promote cross-curricular writing opportunities that enhance learning in other subject areas and showcase the interdisciplinary nature of language skills.
Implementation
Reading
Our approach to Guided Reading is systematic and evidence-based, ensuring that it aligns with the national curriculum and Ofsted’s criteria for outstanding practice. Key implementation strategies include:
- Structured Grouping: Pupils are grouped based on their reading ability, allowing for targeted instruction that meets the individual needs of each child. Regular assessments inform these groups, ensuring they reflect pupils’ current capabilities.
- Effective Teacher Modelling: Teachers demonstrate exemplary reading strategies during sessions, showing pupils how to tackle a range of texts effectively. This includes modelling fluent reading, expressive intonation, and comprehension techniques.
- Rich Text and Extract Selection: We select a wide range of texts, including short extracts from fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, along with a class book, to engage pupils. This not only captures their interest but also exposes them to varied styles, enriching their reading experience.
- Assessment for Learning: Continuous formative assessment is integral to our approach. Teachers use observations and discussions to gauge understanding, informing planning and providing individual feedback to facilitate a cycle of improvement.
- Intervention Strategies: We implement timely interventions for pupils who require additional support, which may include targeted groups or one-on-one sessions to boost confidence and skills.
Writing
Our writing programme is implemented through the DfE approved ‘Literacy Shed Plus’ units, which provide evidence-based teaching designed to cover the entire statutory curriculum for writing within each year group. Each unit is sequentially mapped to ensure comprehensive learning. The following strategies are central to our implementation:
- Immersion in High-Quality Texts: Each unit begins with an immersive experience, where children engage with a high-quality text or short film.
- Model Text Analysis: After this initial engagement, children delve into a model of the writing outcome through a detailed analysis of the vocabulary and grammatical features. Explicit teaching sessions help children extract and understand the structural elements of the model text.
- Planning and Metacognition: During the planning phase, children synthesise their new learning and creatively apply their knowledge to formulate their intended writing outcome. This phase promotes metacognitive skills, encouraging pupils to reflect on their writing processes and creative ideas.
- Final Writing and Revision: The writing phase sees children produce a high-quality independent piece, integrating all the skills taught throughout the unit. Post-completion, they engage in revision and editing, followed by the publication of their work for assessment by the teacher.
- Progression through Genres: We follow the ‘Progression through Genres’ framework, developed by The Training Space (Jane Considine, Education Consultant), to ensure age-appropriate progression across each year group, building on skills and expectations systematically.
- We use ‘Spelling Shed’ to help our children to learn their spellings. The Spelling Shed is a whole school spelling scheme giving 100% coverage of the national curriculum. It is fully controlled by the class teacher and enables each child to have custom spelling lists created for their ability. The scheme is accessible at home on a tablet or phone so that children can practise their spellings as part of their homework in a fun and engaging platform with games to play. Children complete weekly class spelling tests.
Impact
Reading
The impact of our Guided Reading programme is evidenced through various qualitative and quantitative measures:
Enhanced Reading Attitudes: Pupil surveys indicate a strong enthusiasm for reading; pupils express enjoyment and interest in exploring new texts and vocabulary, contributing to a positive reading culture across the school.
- Development of Critical Skills: Pupils are able to articulate their thoughts about texts, demonstrating higher-order thinking skills in discussions. Their ability to make inferences and connections is evidenced in writing tasks linked to reading.
- Vocabulary Expansion: Observations show an increase in pupils’ use of tier 2 vocabulary in both oral and written responses, confirming that our targeted vocabulary instruction is effective.
- Celebration of Diversity: The inclusion of diverse texts has fostered greater empathy and understanding among pupils, promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect for different perspectives and experiences.
Guided Reading at Elmhurst Junior School is a dynamic, integral part of our literacy strategy, aligning with the highest standards set forth by Ofsted and best practices in the education sector. Through intentional design, thoughtful implementation, and measurable outcomes, we continue to cultivate a generation of inquisitive and skilled readers.
Writing
- The impact of our writing curriculum is evident in various aspects:
Pupil Achievement: Progress is regularly tracked, and interventions are promptly instigated for any pupils falling behind. - Pupil Voice: Feedback from pupils indicates a high level of engagement and confidence in writing activities. Pupils express enjoyment in writing, with many demonstrating exceptional enthusiasm for storytelling and creative expression.
- Cross-Curricular Development: Writing skills are integrated across the curriculum, resulting in improved literacy outcomes in subjects such as history and science. This holistic approach fosters a deeper understanding of content and enhances critical thinking.
- Community Engagement: Our initiatives extend beyond the classroom, fostering a sense of community. Partnerships with the Wells Festival of Literature have provided us the opportunity to work with well renowned authors providing the children the opportunity to learn about the writing process as well as engage with workshops run by the authors.
In summary, Elmhurst Junior School’s writing curriculum is diligently designed to inspire and empower every pupil, equipping them with the skills they need for future success and fostering a lifelong love of writing. The evident impact of our programme demonstrates our commitment to achieving outstanding outcomes for all learners.
